About 750 foreign students from 73 countries received one-year Darmasiswa RI scholarships from the Indonesian government to study elements of Indonesian culture, arts and language at 49 universities across the country this year.

National Education Ministry secretary-general Ainun Naim said the program, launched in 1974, was among Indonesia′s cultural diplomacy programs aimed at promoting Indonesian cultures to the rest of the world.

“This is part of our soft diplomacy, so people will not misunderstand Indonesia,” he said Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

The ministry′s head of planning and international cooperation, Ananto Kusuma Seta, said the number of scholarship recipients this year was an increase from the 623 people from 65 countries last year.

Ananto added that the program would provide each student with a stipend of Rp 2.5 million (US$286) per month, as well as completely covering their tuition fees. Upon their completion of the program, the students would also be awarded with an internationally recognized diploma.

At the end of the academic year, each of the students is required to present a thesis on their experience in Indonesia.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) plans to visit Turkey to develop partnership in strategic industry and economy with the country, Foreign minister Retno Marsudi said here on Monday at the state palace after a meeting prior to the presidents visit to Turkey and Germany.